KarstBase an online karst and cave science database

Dear colleagues,

This message is intended to draw your attention to the recently launched KarstBase online system, an initiative to develop a comprehensive bibliography database in karst and cave science.

It need hardly be said that every scientist is interested to have an access to a comprehensive bibliography database in his (her) field. This is especially true for karst and cave science, the field where many publications are so called "grey literature" not adequately represented in any existing geoscience bibliography bases. Another problem is that the established geoscience bibliography databases (such as GeoRef, GeoBase, etc.) are not open to those who are not affiliated with major universities and research institutions.

In the Internet era, we can create a comprehensive karst/cave bibliography database by the community efforts. The recently established www.network.speleogenesis.info has a 'seed' open-access database containing over 9,000 references, with all capacities for further growth through our combined efforts:

http://network.speleogenesis.info/directory/bibliography/karstbase/index.php

You are kindly invited to explore this database and use it for your research needs.

Every registered Network member can submit bibliography references through the online system to get them included into KarstBase. I urge you to explore initial arrangements for KarstBase and contribute to this important work in a way you can. The system includes several options for submission of bibliography information of various types and scope.
  
The most obvious way to contribute is to check how your own publications are represented into the existing KarstBase and to take care of submitting missing references. This would increase the visibility and use of your scientific outcome. Another possibility beneficial for both you and the community is to submit your new publications via the Publication Alert system – such references will go to the database but will also be displayed during a year at the PubAlert page, a good way to publicize your work to the professional community:
http://www.network.speleogenesis.info/directory/bibliography/pubalert.php

We can imagine that submitting personal publications by authors to KarstBase will soon become a good habit among the karst/cave community – this would benefit to everyone!

If you or your institution just published a new collection of papers or a conference proceeding, it would be great if you make sure that its content is submitted to KarstBase as individual references.

Karst/cave research institutions, groups and societies may consider making still greater contributions by arranging systematic work on submitting substantial bibliography collections they maintain.

Please, think of enormous benefits to all of us of having a comprehensive open-access fully-searchable bibliography database! KarstBase is already a substantial open-access searchable system. We should combine our efforts to make it comprehensive. You have an access to Internet and you are interested in promoting karst and cave science, so you can contribute.   

Comments, ideas, suggestions and questions relevant to the KarstBase project can be posted in the respective section of the Speleogenesis Forum:
http://network.speleogenesis.info/member/blog/blog_postings.php?topic_id=3

Thank you and best wishes in your scientific work!

Sincerely,

--Alexander Klimchouk

P.S.  Thank you for distributing this message to other members of the karst and cave science community!